LUCENA CITY -- While Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade wanted not to disrupt the movement of people outside the "bubble area" of NCR+ and thus save the local economy of secondary provinces and cities, the governor of Masbate, the mayor, vice mayor of San Pascual and the town councilors are all sabotaging Tugade's initiative.
The San Pascual, Masbate Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Haira Rivera and Secretary Ernani Lazaro have passed two resolutions urging the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to cancel the missionary route status of Starhorse Shipping Lines Inc. (SSLI) which services the route San Pascual, Masbate-Pasacao, Camarines Sur from its headquarters in Lucena City, Quezon Province.
The councilors said Starhorse has not been operating since the start of the pandemic last March 16, 2020 while MARINA, in its Memorandum Circular No. 05-2019-02 prohibits the operation of "existing motorbancas/motorboats or other wooden hulled ships operating in RORO missionary routes."
Mrs. Merian Reyes who owns Starhorse Shipping Lines, Inc. (SSLI) based in this city branded as clear harassment the Council's move to have its missionary route status cancelled.
In two consecutive resolutions authored by Councilor Rani Laurian Sia, the council asked the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Regional Office in Legazpi City, Albay to cancell the Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) granted to the SSLI to ply the route of San Andres, Quezon--San Pascual, Masbate--Pasacao, Camarines Sur and vice-versa.
Sia's moved was triggered by SSLI's cessation of its operation for 11 months from March 17, 2020 to February 17, 2021 allegedly "resulting to the disruption of service thereby prejudicing the general public for depriving the latter of a public transport service within the said route".
But Reyes explained that they ceased the operation following the government's declaration of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) in March, 2020 prohibiting the transport of passengers and restricted trade and inter- island interface.
"Unfortunately, even with the lifting of the ECQ status in all parts of the country in June 2020, Masbate Provincial Governor Antonio Kho, who also operates a shipping company, issued Executive Order No. 211 which excludes the Port of San Pascual among the designated ports of entry within Masbate stopping us from resuming our operation in the said missionary route," said Mrs. Reyes.
She explained that SSLI was finally allowed to resume its operation in December, but it did not start immediately for security reasons.
It can be recalled that M/V Virgen de Peñafrancia VI being operated by SSLI was attacked by armed men while berthed at the Port of San Pascual on February 11, 2020. An explosive was hurled on its uppermost deck damaging its life rings and the air-conditioning condenser of the ship while its stern side was peppered with bullets.
The case remains unsolved.
Aside from M/V Virgen de Peñafrancia VI owned by Reyes, it was learned that San Pascual Mayor Maxim Lazaro owns cargo ship M/B Maxim operating in Masbate. Lazaro is a political ally of Governor Kho who owns Kho Shipping Lines which operates passenger and cargo ships in the area.
The governor's Provincial Attorney, Rannie Sia is the father of Councilor Sia who has been initiating the cancellation of SSLI's CPC.
Reyes clarified that SSLI continues to operate in the area due to strong clamor of the people there.
"If not for them, we would have stopped operating there a long time ago for fear of our lives and safety of our ship," Reyes said.
Netizens in San Pascual, particularly the website Bagong San Pascual Kontra Katiwalian, has vigorously defended Starhorse Shipping Lines on the issue. In its Facebook page, the group said:
"Why is the Sangguniang Bayan of San Pascual so adamant and persisent in its effort to get rid of Starhorse Shipping Lines' Missionary Status?
"May matino na sanang mode of transportation para sa ating mga kababayan subalit parang pilit namang naghahanap ng dahilan ang lokal na pamahalaan upang MAKANSELA ang missionary status ng barko ng naturang kompanya.
"Mga kababayan, papayag pa ba kayo na muling manaig ang panlalamang at maghari ang mga opisyal na sariling interes ang pinapahalagahan? Who is behind this manipulation?"
Meanwhile, another group of Masbate residents are preparing to take the issue with the Department of Interior and Local Government and Malacanang Palace, questioning the propriety of local officials like Masbate Governor Kho, Mayor Lazaro and others who should be divesting from businesses in their turf while in office.